Amman: death penalty for an American of Jordanian origin

The state security court in Jordan sentenced the Jordanian Raed Hijazi, accused of conspiring to carry out terrorist acts, to death by hanging. A decision which is the third of its kind against this convicted man.

The Jordanian official news agency Petra said that the court issued its decision after finding Hijazi guilty of accusations addressed to him, noting the sentence can be submitted to the court of cassation.

According to the text of the sentence, the state security court issued yesterday two death penalties against Raed Hijazi, and a third penalty of temporary hard labor for 15 years, but decided to "implement the toughest penalty which is death by hanging." Hijazi, who carried the American nationality, said he will submit the case to the Jordanian court of cassation once again in the hope to have it reversed.

The Syrian authorities arrested Hijazi (33 year old) in October, 2000 and handed him over to the Jordanian authorities.

Worthy mentioning that Hijazi, who was working as a taxi driver in Boston, had his name listed on one of the official American lists of those who are described as most wanted terrorists, following the September 11, 2001 attacks.